Hi everyone.  I am a newbie to paddlesteamers, and I have only recently 'returned' to modelling.
My fist model project is a sternwheeler driven by a 3 cylinder long stroke oscillator 'a la Greeley'. I intend to make the rear paddle wheel as a single unit, nearly as wide as the beam dimension.  How do I steer the thing.  I would think that normal rudders cannot be used.  Do i use a rudder on the pointy end or two water brakes; like dagger boards but one on each side.  Help please.
Regards   Vin

Sternwheelers generally have two, three, or four main rudders immediately in front of the sternwheel.

Regards
Eddy

If you check out http://www.towboatjoe.com/ site and his Lady Lois model boat http://www.towboatjoe.com/lois.htm
He shows the rudders.
Regards,
Gerald

Vin,

Many American paddlewheelers had rudders before and after the paddlewheel. Those after the paddle were called Monkey rudders. A good visible example would be the Klondike. Google it and do a search on Flickr and you will get to see a lot of pictures of both sets of rudders.

Randy

Thanks Eddie, Gerald, Randy. it is nice to know that questions like this can be answered so quickly and helpfully, even when the quesion is one of the sort that is only asked by a newbie.
Thank you gentlemen
                                  Vin

Hi Vin,
Never be afraid of asking questions, even if it seems silly or dumb. I was always told the only dumb question is the one unasked. We all started knowing nothing, and by diligent work and study we discover we know next to nothing, so ask away and maybe we will all learn something.
Regards,
Gerald

Hi PD's,

in Germany we have a saying, there is no dump question, only dump answer.

Regards Hans